Examine the stone you wish to carve. Sculptors either find stones to match a form they want to create or work around a particular stone they are attracted to. Choose a soft stone in a color you like and think of what you can carve out of it, such as a figure or abstraction.
Sketch, with a pencil, a drawing on paper of what you want to make. Consider the size of the carving and its view from each angle. Once you are satisfied with your drawing, mark your stone with a pencil. Add lines all over the stone where you plan to carve to help you translate your drawing into your stone.
Place your stone on top of a small sandbag slightly larger than the stone. This cuts down on the vibration to the stone when you hit it, and prevents it from breaking. If the stone is smaller than 6 inches wide or tall, you may need to place it into a vise to hold it down. This prevents the stone from moving about.
Wear safety goggles, earplugs, dust mask and leather gloves to protect yourself from flying dust and debris. Drill a starter hole with a masonry bit to help you get started. Soapstone is soft enough that you do not need this, but harder stones may need some help.
Hold your point chisel at a 45-degree angle or less, and then hit the end of it with your mallet to carve into the stone. Depending on the angle, more or less stone is carved away. Start with shallow lines, and then add depth later. Do not hit your chisel at a 90-degree angle, or you may split the stone. Continue carving into your stone while using your drawing as a guide.
Carve your stone using a flat chisel to form larger grooves. Walk around your sculpture often to see it from all angles. Try to accentuate the beauty of the stone and continue chiseling away until you are happy with the results.
File down areas of stone that you cannot chisel away, such as rounded forms. If you see any white spots after chiseling, file these away because they are bruises in the stone. Sand your finished piece with coarse-grade sandpaper to start. Rub it all over to smooth it out. Switch to a medium-grade sandpaper. Then dip fine-grade, waterproof sandpaper into water and wet sand the entire sculpture to finish.
Polish your carving with polishing fluid and a soft cloth.